Russia promises continued efforts for the extradition of a Nazi veteran
Moscow continues to advocate for the extradition of Nazi veteran Yaroslav Hunka, while Ottawa remains steadfast in its refusal to release him, according to Russia's ambassador in Canada. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Russia's ambassador in Ottawa, Oleg Stepanov, has confirmed continuing efforts to pressure Canada into extraditing 99-year-old Yaroslav Hunka, a former member of the Nazi SS, to face trial for alleged war crimes.
Hunka, who openly acknowledged his past role in the Waffen-SS Galicia Division during World War II, was notably recognized last September with a standing ovation in the Canadian Parliament during a visit by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. His division is known to have engaged in severe anti-partisan actions in Poland and Soviet Ukraine between 1943 and 1944, where its soldiers were implicated in widespread atrocities against Polish, Jewish, and Russian civilians.
Despite a formal request from Russia in late 2023 seeking his extradition for purportedly participating in the killings of at least 500 Soviet citizens, the Canadian government declined this request, lacking a bilateral extradition treaty with Russia.
Further developments saw the Russian Prosecutor General's Office succeed in adding Hunka to Interpol's database, signaling continued efforts to locate and extradite him from any cooperating country.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, however, has been criticized by Ambassador Stepanov as being "disingenuous" regarding Hunka's wartime actions. Stepanov has accused Canada of overlooking Hunka’s wartime activities due to his anti-Communist stance and clean record in Canada, suggesting a policy of ignoring past misdeeds of individuals once they settle in the country.
“But the truth cannot be hidden… The authorities [in Ottawa] are well aware of [Hunka’s] dark past, and of the shameful biographies of thousands more of [Adolf] Hitler’s collaborators who found refuge in Canada after 1945,” Stepanov emphasized.
The Russian Embassy in Canada has declared its persisting commitment to ensure Hunka is extradited to Russia for prosecution.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
Hunka, who openly acknowledged his past role in the Waffen-SS Galicia Division during World War II, was notably recognized last September with a standing ovation in the Canadian Parliament during a visit by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. His division is known to have engaged in severe anti-partisan actions in Poland and Soviet Ukraine between 1943 and 1944, where its soldiers were implicated in widespread atrocities against Polish, Jewish, and Russian civilians.
Despite a formal request from Russia in late 2023 seeking his extradition for purportedly participating in the killings of at least 500 Soviet citizens, the Canadian government declined this request, lacking a bilateral extradition treaty with Russia.
Further developments saw the Russian Prosecutor General's Office succeed in adding Hunka to Interpol's database, signaling continued efforts to locate and extradite him from any cooperating country.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, however, has been criticized by Ambassador Stepanov as being "disingenuous" regarding Hunka's wartime actions. Stepanov has accused Canada of overlooking Hunka’s wartime activities due to his anti-Communist stance and clean record in Canada, suggesting a policy of ignoring past misdeeds of individuals once they settle in the country.
“But the truth cannot be hidden… The authorities [in Ottawa] are well aware of [Hunka’s] dark past, and of the shameful biographies of thousands more of [Adolf] Hitler’s collaborators who found refuge in Canada after 1945,” Stepanov emphasized.
The Russian Embassy in Canada has declared its persisting commitment to ensure Hunka is extradited to Russia for prosecution.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
